Objective: The aim of the article is to explore how Turkish women entrepreneurs who own medium and large-scale manufacturing firms construct and mobilise social networks and how these networks evolve over time. Research Design & Methods: A qualitative research design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 women entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector in Antalya, Türkiye. Due to the absence of a formal database, snowball sampling was used. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to capture participants’ lived experiences in relation to the research questions. Findings: The findings show that women entrepreneurs actively engage in networking throughout the entrepreneurial process. While networks were relatively limited during the start-up phase, they expanded and diversified as ventures grew. Four main network types were identified: personal networks, influential mentors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and public institutions. These networks provided key benefits, including financial support, customer and personnel access, information sharing, and motivational support. Implications & Recommendations: The results emphasise the importance of cultivating networks beyond family ties, particularly with mentors, NGOs, and formal institutions, to support venture development and sustainability. Contribution & Value Added: By focusing on women entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector in a developing country context, this study extends existing research on gender and social networks beyond service-sector and Western settings.
Objective: The article aims to empirically examine how employee resilience (ER) during post-merger integration (PMI) develops through two complementary behavioural mechanisms: the reduction of cognitive uncertainty (CU) driven by visionary leadership (VL) and communication effectiveness (CE), and organisational identification (OI) as a source of adaptive capacity. Research Design & Methods: We applied structural equation modelling (covariance-based SEM and PLS Path Modelling methods) using data from a unique survey of 305 office workers across 295 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2014-2023, evaluating their experiences during the PMI phase. Findings: Results confirmed the proposed dual-mechanism structure. Namely, CU negatively affects ER and serves as a central mediating mechanism linking organisational practices to adaptive behaviour and CE influences ER exclusively through the reduction of CU (full mediation). Meanwhile VL exerts both a direct positive effect and an indirect effect via reduced CU (partial mediation). In parallel, OI independently and positively predicts ER. The effects of control variables (gender, age, residence, and firm size) were not significant. Implications & Recommendations: The findings indicate that ER during PMI is not merely an individual trait but a behavioural capability shaped by organisational practices. Managers can strengthen ER by systematically reducing employees’ CU through CE and VL, while simultaneously fostering identification with the newly formed organisation. Contribution & Value Added: This study contributes to M&A integration research by introducing a dual-mechanism framework that integrates cognitive (uncertainty reduction) and identity-based (organisational identification) pathways to explain how resilience develops during PMI. It reconceptualises CU as a manageable cognitive state that directly conditions adaptive capacity. By uncovering the mechanisms underlying resilient behaviour, the study deepens theoretical understanding of employee adaptation in conditions of profound organisational change.
Objective: The article aims to investigate whether digitalisation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contributes to green economic growth (GEG) across European Union countries, focusing on environmental performance outcomes. Research Design & Methods: Using panel data from 25 European Union countries for the period 2010-2023, we applied fixed-effects, moderation, and panel threshold regression models. Digitalisation was proxied by the share of enterprises with e-commerce turnover above 1%, while GEG was measured via adjusted net savings. The analysis controlled for energy intensity and globalisation, and tests interactions with trade openness and R&D investment. Findings: The results revealed a robust, positive, and statistically significant relationship between SME digitalisation and GEG. Higher trade openness (interaction coefficient = 0.148) and R&D intensity (interaction coefficient = 0.058) amplified the impact. Implications & Recommendations: Policymakers should treat SME digitalisation as both an innovation and an environmental strategy. Support should focus on scaling digital capabilities in traditional sectors, improving access to R&D resources, and fostering enabling conditions like trade integration and green startup support. Investments in digital infrastructure, skills training, ESG metrics, and regional innovation hubs are essential for realising the synergistic benefits of the green-digital transition. Contribution & Value Added: This study shows that SME digitalisation is an important driver of environmental performance, but its impact depends on wider institutional and structural conditions. By combining fixed-effects, moderation, and threshold models, the study offers original evidence of a nonlinear digitalization-sustainability relationship, demonstrating that environmental gains intensify once SMEs reach higher levels of digital maturity. The study further identifies trade openness and R&D intensity as mechanisms that amplify these effects, contributing theoretically by clarifying how structural contexts shape the translation of digital capabilities into green economic outcomes.
Objective: The article aims to determine the impact of innovation, the level of economic activity (measured as GDP per capita), and the added value of key economic sectors (agriculture, industry, and services) on CO₂ emissions in Poland and Spain, and to assess whether innovations could significantly reduce emissions considering economic structural differences and dynamics. Research Design & Methods: The study employed a quantitative research design. It used Fourier autoregressive distributed lag (FARDL) and Bayesian Fourier autoregressive distributed lag (Bayesian FARDL) econometric models to analyse data from 1995 to 2022. The sample encompassed macroeconomic data for Poland and Spain. Findings: The study revealed significant differences between Poland and Spain. In Poland, despite a higher number of patent applications, technological innovations did not significantly affect CO₂ emissions, indicating limited application in high-emission sectors. Conversely, in Spain, innovations positively impacted CO₂ emissions, particularly in energy-intensive sectors. Energy consumption strongly influenced emissions in both countries, with Spain showing a more pronounced long-term effect. GDP negatively affected CO₂ emissions in Poland over the long run, whereas the study did not identify such relationship for Spain. The industrial and service sectors significantly impacted emissions and innovation in Poland, while in Spain, the industrial sector and patent activity were crucial determinants. Implications & Recommendations: The findings highlight the need for tailored economic and energy policy adjustments in both countries, especially focused on innovation, to enhance the effectiveness of their green transitions. Contribution & Value Added: This article contributes by providing a comparative analysis of Poland and Spain using advanced econometric methods, identifying country-specific dynamics between innovation, sectoral structure, the level of economic activity, and CO₂ emissions, thus providing novel insights for policymaking in the context of sustainability. Moreover, the study applied a relatively new and advanced Bayesian Fourier ARDL modelling, enhancing the analysis’ methodological rigour.
Objective: The study aimed to explore how knowledge management practices influence innovative capacity and, subsequently, business performance, while also analysing the moderating influence of corporate diplomacy on this relationship. We investigated the complex interplay between knowledge management, innovative capacity, and business performance within the global business environment, examining the moderating role of corporate diplomacy. The research stemmed from the increasing pressure on organisations to innovate and adapt amidst globalisation, recognising knowledge management’s and corporate diplomacy’s crucial roles in achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Research Design & Methods: We utilised a quantitative research design employing partial least Squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). We collected data from 208 multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in diverse Asian markets. Findings: The findings revealed that knowledge acquisition, utilisation, and dissemination positively influenced innovative capacity, which, in turn, positively affected business performance. Furthermore, corporate diplomacy demonstrated a positive direct effect on business performance. Crucially, we observed a negative moderating effect of corporate diplomacy on the relationship between innovative capacity and business performance. Implications & Recommendations: Research Implications: This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of how firms can leverage both technological and sociopolitical capabilities to achieve superior performance. It highlights the importance of integrating innovation and diplomacy strategies for MNEs seeking to compete effectively in the global arena. Practical Implications: The findings provide valuable insights for managers seeking to enhance their firms’ performance through a combination of knowledge management, innovation and diplomacy. The study suggests that investments in both areas and efforts to align and integrate these capabilities can yield significant returns. It also underscores the importance of adapting diplomatic strategies to leverage specific innovations and target key stakeholders. Contribution & Value Added: This study offers a novel perspective on the interplay between knowledge management, innovative capacity, business performance, and the moderating role of corporate diplomacy. It moves beyond examining these capabilities in isolation to explore their synergistic effects on business performance. By highlighting the importance of integrating these two strategic levers, the study provides valuable insights for both academics and practitioners.
